The work on the Pern Encyclopedia project is a continuous process and the contents of the encyclopedia will change
and be added to on a regular basis (hopefully). Please keep in mind the fact that Elrhan (Hans van der Boom)
is the editor-in-chief that several people will be able to write for and contriibute to the encyclopedia and that subsequently
the articles and notes will often reflect their and the editor's personal ideas and perceptions on the various subjects.

At the end of most entries, or right after specific bits of information or data, you will find the abbreviation(s) of the relevant book title(s) [between square brackets]. This gives you the title(s) of the book(s) where the information comes from, sometimes accompanied by a chapter number and one or more page numbers (separated by a colon). If given, the page numbers refer to the Pern books the editor has used for the encyclopedia. These editions might not be the same as your own. If you want a list of the exact editions that were used for the Pern Encyclopedia go to the page about what is covered by the
encyclopedia.
In one of the departments of the Pern Museum
Library you will also find a list
with all the book title abbreviations used.
Book abbreviation and chapter/page numbers are separated by a
slash. (Example: RSR/4:107, 114 = Red Star Rising (published as Dragonseye in the US),
chapter 4, pages 107 and 114).
If you see (s#) right after the chapter reference
in the book reference this indicates a section (for books with none or only a few
chapters). Section are often headed by a verse (like in Dragonflight), and
were numbered by Elrhan himself, they might help you when you want to find
certain passages, or want to check, or look up something, in your own book
edition.

Letter
menus

From any encyclopedia page you can jump to any another page, or section you want or need, directly by using the letter menus that are at the top and bottom of each page or section and which are sometimes scattered throughout the pages (you might have to scroll up or down to see them or hit ctrl-home or ctrl-end).

Entries
with no explanation or text

While I keep working on the encyclopedia you might find entries
with no explanation or text.
These are there for my benefit and will let you know that I am
still gathering information or am currently working on this particular subject but
do not
have any text ready yet to put in the encyclopedia.

Alphabetical order of subjects

All entries are in strict alphabetical order. This also means that I did not follow the custom to see the honorific apostrophe in dragonrider names as an "A". This would put them always at the beginning of their letter section, like they appear in the Dragonlover's Guide to Pern. As an archivist I do not like to deviate from the strictly alphabetical order, so names of dragonriders appear in their correct place (i.e. Crick, Cr'not, C'rob, Crom etc.). Luckily Anne McCaffrey herself gave me permission (while I was compiling the Who's Who on Pern) to alphabetize the "Terran way".

Main
entries and sub-entries

Main subject entries are seperated by a line. Sub-entries are indented and have a circle list-item on the left hand side. This indicates you might have to scroll up to get to the original or main entry. This was done because there are entries (like Benden Hold) that have so much sub-entries that your complete screen will show only sub-entries and you can't see the main entry anymore.

Pictures

We have received permission of several artists to display their art, most notably Robin Wood gave her permission to use the her art made for the book The People of Pern and the (two editions of) the Mayfair Pern boardgames. Sometimes you will be able to click on the picture that is displayed in the encyclopedia to enjoy a larger version of the picture.

Please remember:
If you have corrections, objections, notions
or think things need alteration, verification, or whateverPlease email us